Old Masters Picture Gallery — Attraction in Dresden

On August 22, 2025, I visited your museum with my wife and two-year-old daughter. Unfortunately, I must express my deep disappointment, as the behavior of your staff was absolutely unacceptable and ruined our entire visit.

At the entrance, we were treated in an arrogant and commanding manner. We were forced to leave all belongings from the stroller in lockers, including my wife’s handbag, which was deemed “too large.” This was especially absurd given that other visitors carried even larger bags. Moreover, the handbag contained essential medication that my wife must always have with her. The staff refused to communicate in English and ignored my request for someone who could assist us. Only after some time did a manager arrive, who partially resolved the issue, but by then we had already lost time and peace of mind.

The most disturbing incident occurred later, at 2:20 PM in Room 131. My two-year-old daughter was moving around a bit energetically, as children of her age naturally do, but she caused no damage. Nevertheless, a female staff member approached us and began shouting at my wife and child in a humiliating, disrespectful, and aggressive manner. This reduced my wife to tears and frightened my daughter, shocking other visitors as well. I also witnessed that only moments before, the same woman had scolded another guest for speaking on the phone in a similarly aggressive way.

When I later spoke to her supervisor, instead of receiving an apology, I was met only with excuses for the employee’s behavior and even false accusations directed at me.

As a professional sculptor with public works in Warsaw and someone who regularly visits museums across Europe – from Oslo and Stockholm to Venice, Trieste, and Cyprus – I have never experienced such a lack of professionalism and hospitality towards visitors.

It is shocking that in such a renowned institution, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Holger Jacob-Friesen, a distinguished art historian, the staff is allowed to act in this way. Moreover, I have seen that similar complaints have already been made about your museum, which proves that this is not an isolated incident.

I expect an official response and corrective actions. I also inform you that I will submit a formal complaint to the relevant authorities overseeing your...

Racist / Rude staff: today (27.08.24) i ve visited the Gallery. I wanted to buy reduced ticket as i m student in my country and for sure i was keeping my bilingual (my language, plus English (international) language) student ID with me. When i kindly asked the middle aged woman with glasses, who serves as a ticket staff, whether gallery was offering any discount for students, iconically smiled and started sarcastic murmuring (hardly ever manages to speak English language). She didnt ask if i was holding ID or any other doc, just started ironical murmuring. When i asked what was going on here as 1 hr earlier I bought discounted ticket in Albertinum with respect, she couldnt explain any. Halllloooo, guysss!!! Its 2024 outside! Does this museum have management team at all?! Have u ever heard about service?! Or staff training courses u cheap people?! U r keeping breathtaking collection of development of human soul inside and outside also keeping such trash as a staff?! 🤮R u insane?! How it happened that ur staff member dares to treat disgracefully visitor / tourist?! Do u think that u still live in DDR?! 🤮 that woman had convulsions for 1,50 eu discount. This is what u r. 🤮when i m politely asking question about discount the only thing I expect it yes/no answer, i dont need her further comments! The only job she has got is to sell tickets! Where did u grow up?! i m pretty sure she never ever would have treated me like that if i were German, u racist! I came visited Dresden to meet Raffael and that DDR product woman spoilt my long waited emotional...

On the side facing Theatreplatz is Semperbau, an important wing of the Zwinger that today houses the Historical Museum as well as the Gemäldegalerie Alter Meister, the Old Masters Gallery. This gallery is pretty important, housing works from the old masters including the famed painting of the Sistine Madonna by Raphael. The highlight of the Old Masters Picture Gallery is undoubtedly the Sistine Madonna by Raphael. This painting is well-travelled. It was painted in Italy for the Pope, purchased by Augustus III and brought to Dresden. It fled the war to Switzerland, saved from destruction but along the way was intercepted by Russians and brought to Moscow. It finally made its way back here to Dresden where it is open for all to enjoy. The Old Masters Picture Gallery is not that big. Which is fine by me, as it means I get to enjoy many of the artwork without spending the entire day. The museum itself can be enjoyed in a pleasant pace and the only time you’ll encounter some level of “crazy crowd” is around the Sistine Madonna. Even then, it’s not to the scale of the Mona Lisa in the Louvre. One thing I see a lot of in Dresden are pictures of the old city, painted beautifully and preserved in all its glory. I get a kick out of seeing the artist impression and remembering the actual square I visited and trying to identify the changes over...